At 12.40 p.m. on 13 November 1896, Te Maari, a crater at the northern end of the Tongariro range, erupted spectacularly. It continued to erupt sporadically for nearly a year. An eruption in 1868 had formed the crater, which was named for a Māori woman of high rank who died around that time. This crater […]
The Kamchatka Tsunami was generated by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake on November 4, 1952, in East Russia. The local tsunami, which generated waves as high as 50 feet, caused extensive damage to the Kamchatka Peninsula and the Kuril Islands, and left an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 people dead. Waves traveled as far as Peru, Chili
M9.0 Earthquake and Tsunami – Kamchatka, Russia, 4th November 1952 Read More »
On the morning of November 1st, 1755 at 9:40, the Great Lisbon earthquake hit Portugal, as well as other parts of the Iberian Peninsula and Northwest Africa with its epicenter offshore. Seismologists estimate the Lisbon earthquake had a magnitude of 8.5 to 9, making it the largest known earthquake to impact Europe and northern Africa. Reports state
1755, 1st of November, The Great Lisbon Earthquake and Tsunami Read More »
On Monday, October 29, 1894, the S.S. Wairarapa, with more than 230 passengers aboard, besides the crew, crashed on to rocks at Miner’s Head on Great Barrier Island in the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand. Captain McIntosh, the master, and initially 134 passengers and crew were quoted as having perished (later figures were higher). It remains the
European settlers arriving in the Wellington region from 1840 onward soon became accustomed to a distinctive feature of the new land: the numerous small earthquakes. Because these minor tremors caused no damage, people were ill-prepared for the severity of the quakes that were to follow. Intensity of the earthquake On 16 October 1848 an earthquake
The 1848 Marlborough earthquake, M7.5, 16th day of October. Read More »
The Wellington–Mōhaka Fault The North Island’s longest active fault runs from Cook Strait to the Bay of Plenty. The southern section is the Wellington Fault; the northern section is called the Mōhaka Fault. The Wellington section presents a major hazard, as it goes through the heart of New Zealand’s capital city and is crossed by
Volcanic activity can include ashfall, falling rocks, hot gases and volcanic rock, lava flows, and massive mudflows. Find out what to do before, during and after volcanic activity. A volcano is a landform that results from a volcanic eruption. New Zealand is situated on the Ring of Fire, around the Pacific Ocean. This ring contains
Storms can happen any time of the year. They can bring strong winds, heavy rain or snow, thunder, lightning, tornadoes and rough seas. Find out what to do before, during and after a storm. New Zealand often gets hit by storms as it lies between 40 and 50 degrees latitude south. This is the ‘Roaring Forties’
Floods happen often in New Zealand and can cause a lot of damage and loss of life. Find out what to do before, during and after flooding. Floods are New Zealand’s number one hazardfof frequency, losses and declared civil defence emergencies. Floods can cause injury and loss of life. Be prepared for fast-flowing water filled
All of New Zealand’s coastline is at risk of tsunami. Knowing the warning signs and the right action to take can help save lives. Find out what to do before, during and after a tsunami. A tsunami is a series of powerful waves with strong current. They can be caused by an earthquake, volcanic eruption,
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